Pownal Gateway

Pownal Historical Society, Inc. September 2007 Vol. 6 No. 1

CONTENTS

Bartels Property Future Un-certain 1 President’s Message 2

How Would You Like to Climb a Greased Pole? 3 Museum of Black World War II History 4 Pownal Baptists 5

Genealogies 5

Bartels Property Future Uncertain

Many Pownal Historical Society member have expressed their interest in preserving the Benoni Thompson property, known in the recent news as the Bartels Property. Eve Pearce has been leading the effort to preserve the property since the Select Board is considering whether to tear it down or renovate the building for such uses as a new Town Offi ce. Eve has provided this update.Selectmen have asked for proposals to make a big, long term assessment of the town’s need for offi ce space and to suggest ways in which that might come to life considering new building and old buildings options. Clearly this includes, but is greater than, just thinking about the Lodge itself.

As of the writing of this newsletter, the Select Board will probably open the proposals at the Sept. 6 meeting. We do not know when the Board may offi cially discuss the proposals or hold an open meeting for the community at this time, but we suggest that you go to the Pownal wiki for the latest information: http://pownal.pbwiki.com

In July the Town agreed to match a grant from the Preservation Trust of Vermont’s Robert Sincerbeau Fund to study Bartel’ s Lodge. The report was completed by Chris Cole of Cole Associates of Manchester and presented to the Selectmen in early August. The report provides an excellent assessment of the condition of the building as well as an itemized and prioritized account of what would be required to stabilize it and to convert it to a contemporary use. The

Upcoming Meetings

Sept. 16, 2 p.m. Memories of Pownal PastPownal Library

Sept. 27, 7 p.m. Archaeology of PownalPownal Library

Sept. 15, 9:30 - 1:30Historical Society MeetingMontpelier

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information provided by the report should prove invaluable as the town considers the future use of the property. We are very grateful to the Trust for their continuing interest in the future of this historic building in the center of Pownal. The selectmen will now investigate options for enlarging the town’s office space and will consider the long term use of the Bartel’s property. In the meantime, we hope a way can be found to prevent ongoing damage to the building caused by substantial leaks in its roof that began with a fire in the building and the firemen’s successful efforts to put it out. Eve Pearce and the Pownal Historical Society Board welcome anyone who would like to work on saving this property as part of historic Pownal Center. If you would like to volunteer some time or expertise for that effort, contact Eve Pearce: eve@sover.net

President’s MessageHello to all,

Well, the air has a nip in it, the sun is going down earlier and we are closing the windows at night rather than leaving them open. I guess it means one thing; fall is just around the corner.The Historical Society enjoyed a nice summer with some fun times. We want to thank all that came out for the history tour in Pownal Center. Between sunshine and sprinkles, we spent time learning about the history of some of the buildings on Center Street. We appreciate the good job the presenters did in telling us about the buildings. Turnout was very good and it makes us want to do some more history tours. Any suggestions as to where we go next?We also had some interesting presenters at the Library and we thank them for their time and for sharing their knowledge with our membership.Now that fall is just around the corner, we are thinking about presentations for the upcoming months. We are always looking for people who would like to share their memories of Pownal. Our town is changing with each day and it is always nice to hear about how things were. Please let us know if you have a topic you would like to speak on. Also, if you know of anyone you feel we should invite to speak, please let us know.Thanks again for being members and for supporting our events by coming out and joining us. Happy Fall! --Ken Held

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By Charlotte Comar

Did you know that you should not grease the sides of cake pans, because cakes don’t like to climb a greased pole! And that a quick frosting is made by boiling a small potato, mashing it and adding powdered sugar and vanilla? Or that after using the oven, you should always leave the door open until oven cools so that moisture will not condense and rust the metal?

If you were fortunate enough to support Pownal’s first fire company by buying a copy of “Favorite Recipes” compiled by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Pownal Fire Department in the early 1950’s, you would have learned all that plus much, much more.

Recipes from Helen Renner’s “Orange-Cranberry Relish” to Mary Patterson’s “Christmas Gumdrop Bread” are contained in this 29-page looseleaf well-worn cookbook that was passed down to my kitchen shelf from my mother’s cupboard.

The stains on page 19 indicate to me that either Mother or I made Leonora Beals’ recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge, and on the following page, Mary Jane Rounds’ Black and White Brownies also has a smudge on it. Pat Ostrander’s Molasses Cookies on page 22, has a notation “Good” beside it and a note that it makes 3-1/2 dozen.

June Kauppi’s Pineapple Raisin Drops on page 23, also are marked “Good” and since there was no baking time indicated I have written “10 min.” in the margin.

My mother, Mildred Crosier, contributed a few recipes. The most interesting one being for “Mrs. Paulson’s Clam Chowder for One Hundred People” on page 3. It brings back memories of helping wash 250 clams, peeling ½ bushel of potatoes and grinding 3 lbs. of salt pork, among other things. Her marginal comment is “Delicious.” And, by golly, it should have been after all that work!

Local businesses of that era placed advertisements in this gem of our town’s history: Warren Wire Co with “Manufacturing Locations in Pownal, VT – Goleta, Calif. – Dunmurry, Northern Ireland”; B. L. Powell, “dealer in General Merchandise”; Cherry Court Motel & Restaurant “9 miles from Historic Bennington”; Jim’s Country Store, Pownal Center and Pownal Tanning Co.

Another 1950’s advertisement that has present day interest is The Red Door Motel & Cabins operated by Ed & Sara McKeever. Ed and Sara’s son, Andy McKeever, now covers the Pownal news beat for the Bennington Banner!

“Breathes there a wife with soul so dead;

Who to her husband has never said:

‘This is my own real, home made bread’”

How Would You Like to Climb a Greased Pole?

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The Museum of Black World War II HistoryMargaret Lillie wrote the following letter to the Bennington Banner. We include it here for those who may not have seen it:

Thanks to Andy McKeever’s article in the Banner (Aug. 3), I attended Raymond Elliott’s talk about his experiences as a black enlistee in World War II at the Museum of Black World War II History on a humid Saturday afternoon. Although Mr. Elliott spoke to a “standing room only” crowd, I noticed only two other Pownalites in attendance, and noticed mostly New York and Massachusetts registration plates on the cars.

Despite the temperature, Mr. Elliott, obviously an accomplished speaker, with a quiet, unassuming manner, held everyone’s attention as he related his experiences as a black U.S. soldier, both while in training in the U.S. and while serving in the South Pacifi c. Some of the treatment he endured at the hands of both military and civilian “whites’’—some 80 years after the Civil War—is not something of which “we whites” can be proud.

As for the museum itself, it was my fi rst visit, and although I am not a military buff, I was impressed with the two large rooms full of “things military” from the collection of Bruce Bird, the curator and military historian—armament, weapons, guns, ammunition and models, accompanied by photos of explanation and of distinguished black military personnel, all professional displayed in cases and cabinets made by him. There is a large collection of model military planes, including one display of planes “in fl ight.”

Although now apparently ably assisted by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable board of directors, the Black History Museum, said to be one of a kind, is essentially Bruce Bird, to whom we are indebted for this latest Pownal institution. And what an appropriate use—in the cause of equality and justice—for the former Oak Hill School, the alma mater of generations of Pownal youngsters.

In Vermont which contributed so dearly to the war which freed the slaves, there should be no room for bigotry and injustice. So in behalf of that great effort, to which men from Pownal contributed, let us welcome and support our Black History museum. Hours at the museum are Thursday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone 823-5519.A lot of good things are happening in Pownal. The Black History Museum is one of them.

Pownal’s 250th Anniversary

In the year 2010, Pow-nal will celebrate its 250th anniversary.

This is an opportunity to highlight the history and accomplishments of Pownal for all of its residents and the rest of the world to see.

The Pownal Historical Society is seeking ideas and volunteers for this major year-long event.

If you are interested in helping to create the year’s events or any one event--or if you have an idea for what should happen during the year, contact any of the Historical So-ciety board members or write to this news-letter: raymond_ro-drigues@ msn.com

Charles Clark Connects Genealogies

On August 20, Charlie Clark discussed a number of the families in Connecticut who settled early towns in 1635. He noted that many of the names found in those Connecticut families are also the names of a number of Pownal’s early settlers. Some have clear family ties from Connecticut to here.

Charlie hopes to work with others in Pownal who would like to build a database of Pownal genealogies. Anyone interested in sharing information should call him at 802-442-5823.

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Beyond a shadow of doubt, many settlers of Pownal were from Rhode Island. Ditto for Shaftsbury, Petersburgh, NY, and Cheshire, MA. Few were Quakers--most were Baptists, thanks to Roger Williams.

Information is scarce as to their patterns of worship. Two sources have recently emerged: the writing of Elder John Leland of Cheshire, a.k.a. the “mammoth priest,” and the journal of Elder Peleg Burroughs, 1778-1779, at Tiverton, RI.

Leland, who was a friend of President Jefferson, who escorted the mammoth cheese (235 lb.) to Washington, DC, in 1802, and who preached before Congress, wrote of our first Elder, Benjamin Gardner, that he was a “high flying Calvinist,” meaning, I assume, that the conversion experience was paramount for membership and for the purity of the church. However, Leland’s comment (found in Andover Newton Theological School) tells us little about worship practices.

Burrough’s journal does hint at worship practices in this manner: he states that he never prepared a sermon beforehand. “Let the Spirit blow” seemed to be his motto. Long periods of silence were common, like the Quakers nearby, as they waited for the Lord to speak to them. Among these early Baptists, “exhorters” were common, young men on the way up, perhaps, who would deliver small sermons.

Foot washing with Communion was practiced in Tiverton. The very sick were anointed with oil, privately. Funerals were the biggest of events, often with three or four elders present, each speaking several times. (At the funeral of Burroughs, 2000 were present.)

At the Union Church in Pownal Centre, it is said that Sunday mornings were for the Baptists, the afternoons for the Methodists, evenings for the Adventists. But Burroughs’ building was small, and so two services, during an afternoon, were held every Sunday. One time he spoke for two hours—beyond “candle lighting” time, I assume.hhhhhh

Early Baptists in Pownal by Ted Atkinson

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Officers Ken Held, PresidentFran Lampman, Vice PresidentCharlotte Comar, Treasurer Wendy Hopkins, Secretary

Board Members

Ted Atkinson, ProgramsDot BanksCharles ClarkJoyce HeldMargaret LillieJeanne Overstreet, membershipRaymond Rodrgues, Newsletter

Website: www.pownal.orgE-mail: pownal@comcast.net

Pownal Historical Society, inc.P.O. Box 313Pownal, VT 05261

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Our Goals

Raise public awareness •of Pownal’s history: its founding fathers and its early inhabitants.

Stimulate our children’s •interest in the history of Pownal.

Gather and preserve his-•torical data and artifacts.

Share with other com-•munities data relevant to their history.

Upcoming Meetings Sunday, September 16, 2 p.m. “Memories of Pownal Past,” led by one of our Pownal friends and neighbors. Robert Peckham will start off the meeting by discussing some of his memories of life growing up and working in North Pownal and the surrounding area. This meeting, open to the public, is intended for audience members to join the discussion and share some of their memories.

Location: The Pownal Public Library, Main Street, Pownal

Thursday, September 27, 7 p.m. Archaeology in Pownal! Archaeologist from Hartgens Associates Archaeologist Corey McQuinn of the consulting archaeology group Hartgens will discuss “Prehistory and History along Route 346: The Archeology of Pownal,Vermont,” based upon the Cultural Resources Survey for the Pownal WasteWater System in Pownal, 2001-2005.

This presentation--open to the public--is co-sponsored by the Pownal Historical Society and the Vermont Archaeological Society. This will be the only presentation during Vermont Archaeology Month, September, that will take place in southern Vermont.

Location: The Pownal Public Library, Main Street, Pownal

Saturday, September 15, 9:30 a.m - 1:30 p.m. The Annual Meeting of the Vermont Historical Society For further information, or to register, please contact: Karen Stites, Senior Administrative AssistantVermont Historical Society. Phone: 0802-479-8501 E-mail: karen.stites@state.vt.us Location: State House, Montpelier